Moral policy

It is good to see that the foreign secretary is committed to reconciling the pursuit of human rights abroad with Britain's moral standing (Report, 15 September). The plight of the Chagos Islanders and the denial of their right to return to their homeland is an obvious situation where theory can be translated into practice. William Hague should start by withdrawing from the case before the European court of human rights and opting for a friendly out-of-court settlement. This suggestion was made by the court to the previous government but it was rejected.

• Lord Bingham's words illuminate the letter (14 September) by David Snoxell: "In accepting the high court judgment in November 2000 the government had made it clear that it would not persist in treating the Chagossians as it had reprehensibly done since 1971."